Kakepuku the Watch-tower.

From here—it is a place of farms now—it is well to look back a while at the valley of the Waipa. I know of few more beautiful scenes combining the peaceful and pastoral with the romantic-seeming landmarks of the Old Frontier. The rich valleys and hills and plains, with their farms and tree groves and church spires, lead the eye on to the far ranges of Maungatautari and Maungakawa. Immediately below is the blue volcanic cone of Kakepuku, with its furrowed sides and crater summit, Kakepuku famous in Maori mythology and fairy lore and war history, noble guardian of the garden lands. There is a suggestion to make a motor road to the top of Kakepuku. I hope it will never become reality. Kakepuku has been robbed of most of its forest garment, but there is still a fairy-haunted bit of bush remaining. It should be held tapu, that mountain-top, the olden watchtower of Ngati-Unu. The hoot and oil-fumes of the automobile would be an offence to the spirit of sanctuary that should prevail on Kakepuku's summit.